Drying room and apparatus.



0. LILLY.

Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I 0. LILLY.

DRYING ROOM AND APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, I916.

1,21 1,325., I Patented Jan 2, 1917.

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narmo noon m APPARATUS.

Specification otletters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 191 7.

Application filed May 15, 1916. Serial No. 97,612. Y

I To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OWEN LILLY, a citizen of the United States residingat Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Drying Rooms andApparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact descriptlon of the invention, such as will enable otherssln'lled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to driers or drying rooms and apparatus forartificially expediting the process of drying painted or varnishedsurfaces in general, and has for an object the production of meanswhereby the aforesaid results may be accomplished with an unusual andmarked degree of efliciency, great accuracy and precision, and a.minimum expenditure of time.

While capable of general use and application as a means of evaporatingvarious menstruums in which the body materials of paints and varnishesare ordinarily dissolved, this invention is primarily designed andadapted for drying the highly finished surfaces of vehicle bodies.Ordinarily carriage manufacturers, for example, set apart a room orrooms wherein paint or varnish is applied, the painted or varnishedvehicle, or bodies of vehicles, then being allowed to remain either inthe same room or in a special drying room, kept as free as possible fromdust, until the paint or varnish shall have dried sufliciently. By suchunaided air-drying process from one day to one week is required,depending upon atmospheric and barometric conditions, for the air toabsorb the materials which are to be evaporated from the painted orvarnished surfaces, and one object of the present invention is tofacilitate this drying of vehicle bodies, and consequently the amout ofwork that can be finished in a given time.

A further object is. the production of novel means for thoroughlyWashing and screening the air used in the present improved dryingapparatus and process.

A further object is that of delivering to work in the drying room aconstantly replenished air-supply under a forced, but accurately andautomatically controlled draft.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means wherebythe drying medium may be introduced into a drying room from above withgreat uniformity of pres- .and set forth in the sure; may be heated andcaused to travel downward throughout the entire area of the room ata'velocity so uniform and extremely low as to avoid streaking ordisfiguring newly finished work, which would otherwise result from theaction of independent or uneven air currents.

With the foregoing and other objectsand advantages in view the presentinvention will be hereinafter particularly described,

claims following.

In ,the accompanying drawings which form part of this application forLetters Patent, and whereon corresponding characters refer to like partsin the several views: Figure 1 is a longitudinal central verticalsectional view of the invention showin all parts in operative relation,and a ve icle body upon the drying floor in process of drying, and, Fig.2 is a horizontal section of a drying room taken on the line 22 ofoutset that the illustrations employed herein are merely diagrammaticrepresentations of a form of drying room or apparatus exemplifying thepresent invention; and that the particular form, proportionandstructural arrangement of parts shown may be variously changed andrearranged without in the least departing from the spirit of thepresentinvention, 0r detracting from the novel results accomplished.

The present illustrations it will be observed, disclose a drying chamberor room 1 of substantially rectangular form, having closed end walls 2,3, similar side walls, 4, 5, a ceiling 6, and a sub-floor 7 the latterby preference converging downward from its outer edges to a centraloutlet 8 of liberal dimensions as shown by Fig. l, and for purposeswhich will later appear. Beneath ceiling 6 is positioned a false ceiling9, at such distance from ceiling 6 as may be necessary to insuresufficient volumetric capacity for the air that will be introducedbetween said ceilings. The false or under ceiling 9 is uniformlyperforated by a multiplicity of air ports 10 throughout its entire area,and as thus far described, the

chamber or room 1, above wall 2 is a transverse inlet flue 11 fordelivering air over a deflector plate 12 into a compression chamber 13between ceilings 6 and 9. At or about its center, said flue 11 isentered by a riser su'pply'pipe 14, in direct communication with an airbox 15 below. Within the said air box 15 and communicating directly withthe lower end of said riser pipe 14 is asuitable rotary blower 16arranged and adapted to be driven by an electric or other form of motor17 preferably at one side of the air box, as shown. This motor 17 inturn is automatically controlled by agency of a thermostat 18, of anyapproved form, located within the room or chamber 1, and adapted to makeand break the electric circuit, diagrammatically indicated at 19, tostart and stop the said motor for the purpose of forcing more or lessair as occasion demands.

Crossing the interior of air box 15 is a series of horizontally arrangedparallel air screens 20, of cloth or other suitable material, for thepurpose of screening the air supply before it reaches the blower 16aforesaid; while similarly guarding the entrance 21 of box 15 is acorresponding but vertically positioned air screen 22 as shown byFig. 1. The said entrance 21 of air box 15 is further provided with aseries of louvers 23, upon. which are directed a multiplicity of streamsof water from a spraypipe 24 crossing the back of said air-boxtransversely and communicating with a suitable water supply (not shown).There is provided also a drain pipe 25 at the lowermost point in air box15, as a means of discharging water which has thus been employed inpractically washing the air supply in its passage through box 15 betweenthe outer and inner screens aforesaid.

Immediately below the false ceiling 9, and at one side of room 1, arepositioned main supply and exhaust or discharge pipes 26 and 27,respectively, for a suitable heating medium, such as steam or hot waterfrom any suitable source of supply (not shown), the circulation of suchheating medium being as indicated by arrows in Fig. 2. Projected fromthe said main supply pipe 26, in a transverse direction across the roomor drying chamber 1, immediately beneath its false ceiling 9, arelateral heating pipes 28 arranged in groups as best shown by Fig. 2.Each of the said groups of lateral pipes 28 after flanking several linesof ceiling perforations 10, discharges into the common exhaust pipe 27as clearly shown, each group being provided with suitable inlet andoutlet valves 29 and 30 respectively, whereby said groups of pipes maybe independently controlled.

Above the sub-floor 7 is positioned the main drying or work floor 31, ofwood, metal or other material, which, like the false ceiling 9, isperforated by a multiplicity of air ports or outlets 32, and assists inproducing what may be termed an air exhaust chamber 33 between saidfloor and sub-floor. Connected to and communicating directly with outlet8 from exhaust chamber 33 is a horizontal flue 34 provided with a damper35 as shown by Fig. 1, and communicating with a vertical stack 36provided at its out let with a rotary cowl 37 for purposes of preventingdowndrafts, and producing a natural updraft.

One approved embodiment of the present invention having beenparticularly set forth as above, its use and operation are quiteobvious, and for that reason need not be dwelt upon at length. It shouldbe particularly noted, however, that in a structure of the characterdescribed, the heating and ventilating agencies are entirely independentand independently controlled, and that, moreover, the drying actionresults rather from the relatively slow, but constant and uniform,current of warmed air gently flowing over the newly painted or varnishedsurfaces, rather than from application of the extreme heat of moreordinary drying methods, as the result of which latter workingconditions are proverbially bad, fire risks are great, and, withrefinished jobs, axle grease and oils are frequently caused to run overthe newly painted or varnished surfaces.

In the present method of operation fresh air entering box 15 through thescreen 22 passes louvers 23. It is then practically washed by contactwith a multiplicity of streams of water from spray-pipe 24, and finallyrobbed of any dust which may possibly remain as it filters throughhorizontal screens 20. Blower l6, automatically controlled by agency ofthe temperature of drying chamber 1, then forces the air supply throughriser pipe 14, past deflector 12, over the entire area of chamber 13,and thence through all perforations 10, downwardly past pipes 28, thelatter being more or less heated as heretofore described. Passing thusgently and uniformly over the work in process of finishing, the dryingmedium is conducted thence through floor outlets 32 into exhaust chamber33 below, via flue 34, past regulating damper 35, to stack 36 to theoutside atmosphere.

This being a description of my present invention, and a generalstatement of its use and operation, it should be noted that variouschanges in the form, arrangement and combination of parts may be madeand substituted for those herein shown without materially altering theresults accomplished, and to all such changes and modifications I layclaim the same as if herein set forth.

Having thus described my invention, what I new claim and desire tosecure by Letters through said drying and exhaust chambers,

and means for heatlng said drying medium as it enters the dryingchamber.

2. In a structure of the character described the combination with adrying chamber having a perforated under ceiling and a similarlyperforated work floor, a compression chamber above said under ceiling,an exhaust chamber beneath said work floor, means for forcing a dryingmedium from the compression chamber through said drying and exhaustchambers, and means for heating said drying medium as it enters thedrying chamber.

3. In a structure of the character described the combination with adrying chamber having a perforated under ceiling and a similarlyperforated work floor, a compression chamber above said under ceiling,an

exhaust chamber beneath said work floor, means for forcing a dryingmedium from the compression chamber through said drying and exhaustchambers, and heating pipes within said drying chamber for heating thedrying medium during its passage therethrough. 1

4. In a structure of the character described the combination withintercommunicating compression drying and exhaust chambers, of meansfor. forcing a drying medium from the compression chamber through saiddrying and exhaust chambers, and independently controllable heatradiators within said drying chamber for heating the drying medium 1nits passage therethrough.

5; In a structure of the character described the combination with adrying chamber, of means for forcing adrying'medium through saidchamber, mdependently controllable pipes within said drying chamber forheating the drying medium in its passage therethrough, and main supplyand exhaust pipes common to all of the aforesaid pipes.

6. In a structure of the character described the combination with adrying chamber, of a superposed compression chamber communicating withsaid drying chamber through a multiplicity of perforations, a fresh airsupply pipe communicating with said compression chamber, and means forforcing air from said compression chamber into and through the dryingchamber.

7. In a structure of the character described the combination with adrying chamber, of a compression chamber communicating with said dryingchamber through a multiplicity of perforations, a fresh air'sup-;

ply pipe in 0 en communication with said compression c amber, and ablower for forcing air through said supply pipe compression chamber anddrying chamber.

8. In a structure of the character described the combination with adrying chamber, of a compression chamber and an exhaust chamberoppositely disposed with relation to said drying chamber andcommunicating therewith b means of a multiplicity of equidistant perorations, a fresh air supply pipe in open communication with saidcompression chamber, and a suitable blower vfor forcing air through saidsupply pipe compression chamber and drying chamber,

In a. structure of the character descrlbed the combination withintercommunicating compression drying and exhaust chambers in verticalarrangement, of heating pipes within the drying chamber, an air supplypipe communicating with said com pression chamber, an outlet pipecommunicating with said exhaust chamber, and a suitable blower forforcing a drying medium through all of said pipes and chambers.

10. In a structure of the character described the combination withintercommunicating compression drying and exhaust chambers, of an airsupply pipe leading into sa1d compresslon chamber, means for washing theair supply in its passage through saidsupply pipe, and means for forcingthe drying air through said drying chamber at a uniform andpredetermined rate of movement.

11. In a structure of the character described the combination withintercommunicating compression drying and exhaust chambers, of an airsupply pipe leading into said compression chamber, means for washing theair supply in its passage through sa1d supply pipe, a suitable blowerfor forcing the drying air from said supply pipe through the chambersaforesaid, and an outlet flue leading from the exhaust'chamber to theatmosphere.

12. In a structure of the character described the combination withintercommunicating compression drying and exhaust chambers, of an airsupply pipe leading into said compression chamber, an air box at theintake end ofsaid pipe, a series of louvers crossing the inlet to saidair box, a multiplicity of air washing streams playing upon said louversfromthe opposite side of the air box, and means for forcing the washeddrying air through said supply pipe and chambers at a uniform andpredetermined rate of movement.

13. In a structure of the character described the combination withintercommunicating compression drying and exhaust cally andautomatically controlling said blower.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

OWEN LILLY. Witnesses:

W. L. QUISENBERRY, H. E. HITZEL.

